Hey guys I'm new here and have my first XJ with no experience. I have a 97 Cherokee 4.0 4X4. I bought the truck with a 6" Rough Country suspension lift and I was getting a loud bang/clunk noise from the rear when I went over bumps. I did some research and found that the rear shackles for the leaf springs are sitting on an angle and basicly sitting up against the frame which leads me to believe it's time for some new leaf springs. I'm extremely confused on which ones I would need though because I can't tell which ones are on the truck now. Can anyone please help as to clarify which leaf springs I would need to get? Thank you!!

 

any pics of the suspension?

 

I attached one pic of the actual shackle hitting the rear frame while the truck just sits on the ground in my driveway. I had a little trouble getting this pic up but if you need more just let me know and i'll try my best. Thanks for the help.

 

Heres another from the other side

 

WOW take a look at this thread an see if it helps an am gonna keep thinking on this one...Shackle Relocation boxes (lift shackle correction) - Jeep Cherokee ..

 

Yea I may be new to XJ's but I was pretty sure my shackle shouldn't sit on my rear frame lol but I read somewhere else that when the leaf springs go bad they straighten out and cause this to happen. Now I just need to know which leaf springs I'll need since I have a Rough Country 6" lift.

 

Can't say i've ever seen this before. But if you know you have a six inch rough country lift, just hit them up and order their six inch leafs.

 

Yea I'm new to the whole scene by buddies rear shackle sits slightly towards the rear frame at about a 30 degree angle and he has no symptoms like I'm having. Is there anything else that could cause this other than bad leaf springs? Or does it seem like leaf springs are the culprit? Any input is greatly appreciated and if anyone needs more pics just let me know. I don't want to drop the cash for new springs to find out after installing them that my problem still persists and the old leaf springs were fine.

 

Could it be the shackles being the wrong ones or stock ones and being too short? Like will longer shackles give me more clearance? I don't know because this is all new to me and I'm trying to learn

 

Anyone?

 

yes lift shackles will give you more lift in the rear

 

Im not exactly sure what you have going wrong here... I can see whats wrong but why its happening is blowing my mind..its as if its a bastard pack built way to long with the geometry you have now new shackles wont help basically I see new springs or new shackle location....is you xj on jacks? your springs dont look flat......

 

In the pictures I posted the truck is sitting flat on the ground in my driveway...this is really bugging me...I don't want to get into the task of re-locating the shackle location because I don't believe I have enough knowledge to do so. I just don't understand why this is happening when I've seen other XJ's using the stock location and working just fine. I'm thinking that it must be something with the leaf springs I have now so I'm thinking of just replacing them but want more advice before spending the money I want to be certain. Has anyone ever seen this before or any other suggestions? Thanks to everyone who has been giving me suggestions!

 

whats on the other end of the leaf? previous owner didnt put a shackle up there did they? if not sure post a pic of the other end

 

The other end is just the leaf spring with a bushings through the middle and bolts right up to a mount on the frame with no shackle